Fertilizer-distributer and seed-planter.



No. 808,262. PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905. DE WITT W. STRIGKLAND.

FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTEB AND SEED PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTGE.

FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTEB AND SEED-PLANTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed May 19, 1905. Serial No. 261.245.

T0 LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DE WITT W. STRIOK- LAND, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Magnolia, in the county of Pike and State ofMississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFertilizer-Distributers and Seed-Planters, of which the following is aspecification.

In accordance with this invention an attachment is provided that may beapplied to an implement, such as a cultivator or harrow, either fordistributing fertilizer or depositing seed and which will operate assatisfactorily in either capacity as a machine specially constructed forthe particular character of work.

The invention contemplates a beam, a frame detachably fitted thereto,distributing mechanism at one end of the frame, a groundwheel at theopposite end of the frame freely movable therewith to a limited extentto conform to rolling ground and irregularities in the surface thereof,and novel actuating means for operating the distributing mechamsm.

The invention further contemplates the novel structural features,details, and combinations of parts, which hereinafter will be moreparticularly set forth, illustrated, and finally claimed. v

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification,Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cultivator having the attachment inposition. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section thereof.Fig. 3 is a tranverse section on the line a: as of Fig. 2, the handlebars, the cultivator teeth, and ground-wheel being omitted; and Fig. 4is a top plan view of the attachment.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The beam comprises similar members 1, having an offset 2 near theirfront ends to bring the parts 3 close together, so as to receive theclevis-fastening, tooth, or other desired part. The beam is preferablyconstructed of a metal bar bent upon itself into the form substantiallyas shown, the end portions of the bar being welded or otherwise joinedto form, in effect, an integral structure. A beam constructed in thismanner is comparatively light and capable of resisting considerable wearand strain and may be easily handled.

The clevis 4 may be of any usual construction and is attached to thefront end of the beam by means of a bolt or other fastening 5, thelatter passing through rearwardlyeX- tended lugs of the clevis andthrough the space formed at the front end of the beam at the fold of thebar. The handle-bars 6 are bolted or otherwise fastened at their lowerends to the side members of the beam and are supported by means of abrace-frame 7 of approximately triangular form, said frame being formedof a bar madefast to the handlebars and having its end portions bentdownwardly and inwardly and attached to the rear portion of the beam bymeans of a fastening 8.

The cultivator is in the nature of anattachment and may be removably andadjustably fitted to the beam, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, andcomprises a cross-piece 9 and side bars 10. The cross -piece 9 is formedof companion members vertically spaced so as to receive between them thecontracted forward portion of the beam. These members are clamped to thebeam by bolts or like fastenings 11, passed through registering openingsformed therein. The bars 10 are pivotally connected at their front endsto the cross-piece 9 and are laterally adjustable at their rear ends.Connecting-bars 12 are pivoted to the rear ends of the bars 10 andoverlap each other at their inner ends, which bars are secured to therear portion of the beam by suitable fastening means. As shown, a link13 embraces the overlapped ends of the connecting-bars 12, and atransverse key is passed through an end of the link and engages with themembers 1 of the beam and secures the parts in an adjusted position. Toprevent slipping of the key 14, the lower edge of the members 1 isnotched, as shown at 15. The fastenings 11, connecting the parts of thecross-piece 9, are adapted to engage with the oifset portions 2 of thebeam members, so as to limit the rearward movement of the culitvator orharrow attachment when placed in position, and to prevent possibledisplacement should said fastening be come loosened from any cause.

The attachment for depositing either seed or fertilizer comprises aframe 21, adapted to rest upon the beam, and provided with the hopperfor containing the grain or fertilizer and with the operating mechanismfor effecting a positive discharge thereof. A hopper 22 is provided atthe rear end of the frame 21 IIC and a ground-wheel 23 is arranged atthe front end of said. frame, suitable connections being interposedbetween the ground-wheel and the agitating means to insure positivesupply of the grain or fertilizer in the operation of the mechanism. Thebase of the hopper is constructed to fit snugly between the companionbars 1 of the beam, whereas the frame 21 rests upon said bars ormembers. The reduced portion of the base is formed at its rear end witha hook 24 to make positive engagement with a transverse rod or bar 25,so as to hold the hopper in position and prevent vertical and rearwarddisplacement thereof. The front end of the frame 21 is preferably freeto have a limited vertical play, thereby adapting the ground-wheel 23 tofollow irregularities in the surface of the soil. The weight of theattachment is sufficient in connection with the hook 24, transverse rod25, and the reduced portion of the base of the hopper to retain theattachment in position under normal conditions. A shaft 28 is ournaledtransversely of the hopper 22 and is provided at one end with acrank-arm 29. An agitator 30 is fast to the shaft 28 and comprises aseries of fingers. A tubular shaft 31 is mounted upon the shaft 28 andis provided at its outer end with a crank-arm 32 and is supplied with anagitator 33, corresponding in form with the agitator 30. A shaft 34 islocated exterior to the hopper 22 and is mounted in extensions thereofand is provided at opposite ends with crank-arms 35 and 36. A pitma-n 37connects the crank-arms 29 and 35, and a corresponding pitman 38connects the crankarms 32 and 36. The shaft 34 has pulley 39 fastthereto and connected by belt 40 with a corresponding pulley 41, fastwith the axle of the ground-wheel 23. The crank-arms 36 and 35 projectin opposite directions, and the connections between them and the shafts28 and 31 are such as to move the agitators 30 and 33 in oppositedirections. The bottom of the hopper has a discharge-opening 42, whichis controlled by means of a slide 43 for regulating the discharge of thefertilizer or grain. The slide 43 is provided at opposite ends withinclined slots 44, which receive pins 45, connecting said slide with thebottom of the hopper and serving in conjunction with the slots 44 todirect said slide in its movements. A stem 46 is connected at its innerend with the slide 43 and passes through an opening in the rear wall ofthe hopper and is adapted to provide convenient means for manipulatingthe slide when it is required to vary the effective size of thedischarge-opening, according to the quantity of fertilizer or grain tobe deposited in a given space.

The covering'shovels 26 are attached to bars 27, which in turn arepreferably pivotally connected at their front ends to the side membersof the beam and which are laterally adjustable at their rear ends andadapted to be secured to the rear portion of the beam by suitable means.

The planter and fertilizer attachment when placed upon the beam has itsframe 21 resting thereon and the pendent portion of the hopper snuglyfitted between the members of said beam, the hook 24 receiving the rod25 and forming positive connection between the attachment and beam, thefront portion of the frame 21 being free to move vertically, wherebyprovision is had for adapting the ground-wheel 23 to followirregularities in the surface of the ground. hen the attachment is inposition and the implement is advanced over the field, the ground-wheel23 is rotated by traction and imparts movement to the shaft 34 by meansof the belt 40 and pulleys 41 and 39. An oscillatory movement isimparted to the agitators 30 and 33 from the shaft 34 by means of theconnections herein described, thereby insuring a positive feed of eitherthe fertilizer or grain when the mechanism is in effective operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Incombination, a beam comprising transversely-spaced members, and adistributer attachment for either seed or fertilizer, the samecomprising a frame, a hopper, a ground wheel, agitating mechanismactuated by means of the ground-wheel, and connecting means between theattachment and beam at the hopper end of the frame leaving the end ofthe frame provided with the ground-wheel free to move vertically.

2. In combination, a beam comprising transversely-spaced members, aframe adapted to rest upon the beam, a hopper at one end of the frameprovided with a pendent portion to snugly fit between the spaced membersof the beam, a ground-wheel j ournaled to the opposite end of the frameand operating in the space formed between the members of said beam,agitating mechanism, and connectingmeans between the groundwheel andagitating mechanism.

3. In combination, a hopper provided in its bottom with adischarge-opening, a slide for regulating the effective size of saidopening and provided in opposite ends with in clined slots, pins passedthrough said inclined slots and serving to connect the slide to thebottom of the hopper and direct it in its movements, and a stemconnected with said slide to facilitate adjustment thereof.

4. In a device of the character described, a beam comprisingtransversely-spaced members, a transverse rod 25 secured to saidmembers, a frame adapted to rest upon the beam, and a hopper carried bysaid frame at the rear end thereof and provided with a hook adapted toengage said rod to form a connection between the rear end of the frameand the beam to admit of the front end of said frame having a limitedvertical play.

5. In a device of the character described, a beam comprisingtransversely-spaced members, a transverse rod 25 connecting the membersnear the rear thereof, a frame adapted to rest upon the beam and havingits rear portion extending between the members thereof to preventrelative lateral displacement of said frame, a wheel arranged in thefront end of said frame, a hopper carried by the rear end of the frame,and a hook designed to engage said rod whereby to form connectionbetween the rear end of the frame and I 5 in presence of two witnesses.

DE WIT'I W. STRICKLAND.

Witnesses:

M. M. HART, HOMER HART.

